08/09/2026
In July, officers from the Massachusetts Environmental Police responded to over 40 bear-related incidents across the Commonwealth. From Western MA to Bourne, we received reports across the state of damage to poultry, livestock, and crops, break-ins at buildings, defensive encounters with dogs, and various issues related to dumpsters, trash, campgrounds, picnic areas, and bird feeders. The list goes on from there.
To address these issues, property owners are encouraged to install electric fencing that is adequately powered and includes baited wires. This type of fencing, when properly set up, effectively safeguards livestock, poultry, bee hives, crops, and trash containers, significantly reducing the chances of recurring bear conflicts. Furthermore, Massachusetts is launching a continuous bear hunting season this year, from Labor Day through early December, offering over three months of regulated opportunities. For communities with ongoing bear problems, connecting responsible hunters with landowners in need could be beneficial, creating a win-win situation by removing bears with destructive behaviors while providing hunters a legitimate chance to harvest a big-game species.
